Thomas Southerne

Dramatist Thomas Southerne (or Southern) was buried in St Margaret's Church Westminster on 29th May 1746 but he has no marker or memorial.

He was born near Dublin in 1660, son of Francis, a brewer. Educated in Dublin he moved to London in 1680 to become a lawyer but was more interested in the theatre and was a friend of John Dryden. His first play The Loyal Brother was put on at Drury Lane theatre. For a short while he served in the army. His comedy Sir Anthony Love was well received and Oroonoko and The Fatal Marriage (both based on works by Aphra Behn) made him wealthy. It is not known if he married but he had a daughter Agnes. He lived in Tothill Street and Smith Street Westminster.

His will is in The National Archives, Kew.

Further reading:

Thomas Southerne, dramatist by J.W. Dodds, 1933

Oxford Dictionary of National Biography